Expert: Spitzer must heal his family first

By Marlene Naanes, amNewYork Staff Writer
More stories | MNaanes@am-ny.com

March 13, 2008

The future career path of a politician disgraced can be forked and long, experts said Wednesday.

When Gov. Eliot Spitzer resigned yesterday, he hinted at a future career, outside of politics, in which he can serve the common good. Some experts interpreted the comment as a notion to possibly join his wife, if she stays with him, in the philanthropic realm.

"Eliot Spitzer might fade from view temporarily," said political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, who worked on some of Spitzer¹s campaigns. "He will probably seek a way to prove that there is more to do with his life than regret."

Others with similar problems have done similar things. Spitzer, 48, could come back as a political news analyst, or even enter law again, experts said. A lot of what his future holds, especially resurrecting a law career, depends on what, if any, criminal charges he faces.

Spitzer could face anything from private reprimand from a disciplinary committee to disbarment, legal experts say. Even without criminal charges, his disgraced reputation could rule out lobbying or becoming a political campaign consultant, Sheinkopf said.

Political analyst Alan Chartock disagreed, only ruling out Spitzer becoming a politician again. Spitzer, who¹s worth millions, may join his family¹s real estate business, Chartock said.

"There is so much money in the Spitzer family and there is this real estate empire," said Chartock, a SUNY Albany professor.

Others wondered if Spitzer¹s ambition would let him rest solely on his family fortune, yet many agreed on one thing.

Before he puts the next notch on his resúmé, he¹ll have to work at rebuilding the trust of his wife, Silda Wall Spitzer, who has so far stood by his side. Spitzer said in his resignation that healing himself and his family was first on his agenda.

If he values his marriage, he may have to stay home for several years, if only so his wife knows where he is, said one psychologist.

"The repair of the shattered marriage needs to be the prime project of his life if he wants to hold his family together," said Arthur Kovacs, a California-based psychologist who specializes in family turbulence.

"Everything else has to become second to that."